Today's birds: I finally made the decision to rely on auto focusing; I cannot adjust the diopter for my eyesight. Please let me know if these are better or if you have any suggestions...

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

I finally made the decision to rely on auto focusing; I cannot adjust the diopter for my eyesight. Please let me know if these are better or if you have any suggestions for me. I know the first bird is an oriole, the 2nd one is a house sparrow, but I don't know what the black/white one is. I think it might be a woodpecker but I'm not sure.

Oriole in my next door neighbor's bird feeder

(Download)

House sparrow, my tree, sharpness increased in camera

(Download)

my tree

(Download)

edfed Loc: Melbourne. Florida

Photo Girl wrote:

I finally made the decision to rely on auto focusing; I cannot adjust the diopter for my eyesight. Please let me know if these are better or if you have any suggestions for me. I know the first bird is an oriole, the 2nd one is a house sparrow, but I don't know what the black/white one is. I think it might be a woodpecker but I'm not sure.

Photo Girl, I believe the 1st one is a comon Finch. An Oriole is black and orange. Nice pics.

Tpharm Loc: Central PA

Very nice bird shots. I assume they were taken in Conn. The yellow is a male American Goldfinch (Orioles are orange) and the woodpecker is a female Downey. But even with Sibleys Field Guide I couldn't confirm the sparrow; there are many.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Well these are much better than yesterday's. Congratulations...your making progress Margo!!!!

First one looks like an American Goldfinch to me.

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

edfed wrote:

Photo Girl, I believe the 1st one is a comon Finch. An Oriole is black and orange. Nice pics.

Thank you; now I can say I saw a common Finch. And thank you for your kind comments.

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

Tpharm wrote:

Very nice bird shots. I assume they were taken in Conn. The yellow is a male American Goldfinch (Orioles are orange) and the woodpecker is a female Downey. But even with Sibleys Field Guide I couldn't confirm the sparrow; there are many.

Thank you for the identification. Yes, these were taken in my neighbor's yard and my yard. These little guys that I was told long ago by a friend that they were house sparrows, come back every year to make a nest in my moo-cow bird house. I thought that might be a downey woodpecker but I wasn't sure. I saw one the other day that had red on his head. I couldn't get outside to get his picture; he was too much in a rush!

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

James56 wrote:

Well these are much better than yesterday's. Congratulations...your making progress Margo!!!!

First one looks like an American Goldfinch to me.

Thanks James. I'm really trying to improve. I could see the difference when I shot them in my tree as it is only about 30 feet from where I stand to take the pictures. I increased the sharpness in my camera. Do you think I should increase it more? I have to admit I don't know enough about my camera yet and I should be working on clearing out my house, but you guys are driving me crazy with your bird shots and I want to do them too! LOL.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Photo Girl wrote:

Thanks James. I'm really trying to improve. I could see the difference when I shot them in my tree as it is only about 30 feet from where I stand to take the pictures. I increased the sharpness in my camera. Do you think I should increase it more? I have to admit I don't know enough about my camera yet and I should be working on clearing out my house, but you guys are driving me crazy with your bird shots and I want to do them too! LOL.

No, don't increase in camera sharpness any more. Use an editing program which does a better job. If you overdo it with a program you can UNDO, but you can't undo with in camera sharping. Have fun...

John Lawrence

Very nice set, Margo. Now it looks like spring. You're starting to attract a nice assortment of birds at your feeder. Keep up the good work. :thumbup:

John

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

John Lawrence wrote:

Very nice set, Margo. Now it looks like spring. You're starting to attract a nice assortment of birds at your feeder. Keep up the good work. :thumbup:

John

Thanks John, I really want to take some nice bird pictures and know what I'm doing. That downy was a nice surprise today. I hope to see more.

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

James56 wrote:

No, don't increase in camera sharpness any more. Use an editing program which does a better job. If you overdo it with a program you can UNDO, but you can't undo with in camera sharping. Have fun...

The downy was taken with 2 stops sharper in the camera. Is that OK?. I noticed the grain after I posted the pictures and at that point it's too late to correct it.

datsmar Loc: minnesota

nice
dave

Photo Girl Loc: SE Pasco County, FL

datsmar wrote:

nice
dave

Thank you for looking, Dave. I appreciate it very much.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Pretty shots, Margo :)

Sharpness is a personal preference, of course, but I definitely wouldn't do it in-camera. Even the free, easy editor Picasa has a sharpening tool if you feel the image needs it once you get it onto your computer.

For me, too much sharpening makes an image look artificial and harsh. I prefer soft and dreamy :)

Don L G

Photo Girl wrote:

I finally made the decision to rely on auto focusing; I cannot adjust the diopter for my eyesight. Please let me know if these are better or if you have any suggestions for me. I know the first bird is an oriole, the 2nd one is a house sparrow, but I don't know what the black/white one is. I think it might be a woodpecker but I'm not sure.

I love #1. We have them here too.